2-stroke Lawn Boy Fanboy Thread!

[Kaboomba]

My grandpa still has his old Lawn Boy (it must be 50 years old now). I saw and used lots of them, along with Toro, when I worked for a power equipment dealer.

I have seen and used plenty of great modern walk-behind mowers, BUT--the old Lawn Boy 2-strokers STILL stand out!

1. The classic ones are very light and easy to handle/maneuver, thanks to aluminum and magnesium (yes, MAGNESIUM) use for engine and deck

2. Quality is generally good, from what I have seen of both older and newer Lawn Boy 2-stroke machines. As long as they are given the right swill to drink, and get clean air filter and a new plug every few years, they are happy.

3. True bog-down resistance. I noticed this right away when I first used a Lawn Boy 2-stroke mower. It didn't seem to bog the way other 4-stroke mowers would (for a given deck size and HP rating). I think the reason is twofold. First, the 2-stroke engine has twice as many power strokes than a 4-stroke engine does at the same RPMs. Second, I noticed thatthe flywheel on the typical Lawn Boy 2-stroke was a rather large diameter (a little larger than most 4-stroke equivalents) while having similar weight as a comparable-size 4-stroke engine. Together this means less time between power strokes (less time for loss of rotating inertia), and higher overall rotational inertia.

4. Mosquitoes HATE the fogging they get from that deck-integral muffler!

Anybody else out there an avowed 2-stroke fanboy??

 

[SLCraig]

My dad had one of those for many years, probably 30 (literally) and he just gave it to a friend. The only real problem with it was the fact it was so gutless, it was like 3 horsepower and if the grass was even an inch longer than normal, you would have to move forward and then backward as you walked. It was so annoying to use.

But it ran awesome, for a very very long time.

I gotta say though, I do like the 6 horsepower engine (Kawasaki) on his new mower. Although I would miss the lightness and overall ease of use with the old 2stroke LawnBoy.

 

[Kaboomba]

I think a lot of the old ones did eventually wear out and become gutless. Compression would go down and valves would get gummed up with blowby.

 

[TooManyWheels]

In the early sixties my father bought the combo push/rider arrangement. My brother and I used that for probably twenty years to mow about an acre and a half, some of which was a back lot which could get quite tall.

Never any trouble to speak of, other than the rubber wheel which mated the trans to the flywheel would chunk rubber, but that was a ten minute replacement.

Lent it to some neighbors once who, in spite of us giving them the fuel, ran it on straight gas. Fortunately we caught on to that quickly (no blue smoke)and it continued to run fine until it just plain wore out.

 

[Boomer]

I have a 19" push Lawn Boy Two Cycle that I bought new about 27 years ago. It is still my only lawn mower and runs great. Has the cast aluminum/magnesium deck. All I have ever used for lubricant is the lawn Boy 2-cycle oil plus the requisite amount of Stabil. I did have to replace the ignition about 12 years ago and the shop guy said I was dumb spending $60 to have this fixed when I could buy a new one for "only about $300". I think I won this argument!

 

[mfd111]

I could'nt agree more. Hands down, they are the greatest mowers ever made. My "new one" is 23 years old and has had only a yearly spark plug and air filter cleaned or replaced. Still starts on the first or second pull. My old mower is 30+ years old. They have good power, and are light weight. My new mower has been on AMSOIL 100 to 1 Saber Professional its entire life too!

 

[steveh]

My first lawn mower was a Lawn Boy two cycle. I bought it for $30.00 used at a garage sale. It had more power then the Sears 6.75HP that I bought to replace it.

 

[rclint]

I just got a late model Lawn Boy which is not in my opinion what made the mowers famous.. The two stroke engine is far less maintenance than a 4 stroke in this application, and a huge thing is two stroke engine oils have a built in fuel stabilizer so that really ups the time gas has before it turns to brown goo all in the carb...

This mower I have does however have electric start (wow) and will also crank on very first pull.. fancy mulching engineering built in lots of neat fancy stuff, pulls itself, and really cuts a nice lever following the ground... I use it to trim around the house, swing set etc..

 

[fdcg27]

Had one.
Liked it.
Got many years out of it on a lawn everyone else in the neighborhood thinks requires a rider.
I really should have fixed its minor problems and kept it.
It cut very well, and did not bog down in tall grass, as I recall.

 

[SWSportsman]

I wore out a couple of the old OMC Lawn-Boys. The Duraforce I have now lacks some of the quality of the old ones, but works good....and I love the smell of Klotz in the morning!

 

[SWSportsman]

Originally Posted By: rclint
....two stroke engine oils have a built in fuel stabilizer...


Some do...most don't. At least not anything that's effective and in sufficient quantity.

 

[Papa Bear]

I have a 2 cycle model 7050 with the steel deck. Bought it in August '89 and it's still running strong.

 

[super20dan]

i have 20 of them.

 

[IndyIan]

I'm using a 21" consumer model from the late 80's. It was my Dad's and I can't recall anything ever being fixed on it. Not even a fuel line replacement. Its wore out 2 blades, they get paper thin on the up turn and eventually become flat.
I've got a "challenging" lawn with lots of trees and shrubs and lots of slopes. A self propelled mower is a waste of time and effort and I doubt even the lightest 19" tinfoil cutting deck 4 strokes sold now is lighter than the lawn-boy.
This one doesn't really smoke at all mixed at 32:1 and still has good power although its getting a bit "knocky" and the bottom crankseal is leaking a bit... Thankfully it has an adjustable carb to keep it from getting lean, so I'll probably get the engine rebuilt one of these winters and go for another 20 years.

 

[Johnny]

I mow with my 45 year old Lawn Boy mower and edge the sidewalk and driveway with my 44 year old Lawn Boy edger. Both start on the first pull after winter storage. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I'm using a 21" consumer model from the late 80's. It was my Dad's and I can't recall anything ever being fixed on it. Not even a fuel line replacement. Its wore out 2 blades, they get paper thin on the up turn and eventually become flat.
I've got a "challenging" lawn with lots of trees and shrubs and lots of slopes. A self propelled mower is a waste of time and effort and I doubt even the lightest 19" tinfoil cutting deck 4 strokes sold now is lighter than the lawn-boy.
This one doesn't really smoke at all mixed at 32:1 and still has good power although its getting a bit "knocky" and the bottom crankseal is leaking a bit... Thankfully it has an adjustable carb to keep it from getting lean, so I'll probably get the engine rebuilt one of these winters and go for another 20 years.


Mine was getting a bit 'knocky" too so I cleaned/oiled the foam air cleaner and cleaned the gunk out of the muffler... runs like new now.

 

[IndyIan]

I should try the simple stuff first I guess, but my mower does have some play on the crank felt at the blade atleast and that seal does leak so I'm thinking its getting a bit "loose" in there. I should get a dial gauge and actually measure it.

 

[Deltona_Dave]

I learned, then dreaded to cut the lawn on a 1970 LB. Made a few bucks cutting all the neighbors lawns on that thing. It had the awkward side bag that was huge. Dad replaced it with another LB that had the bag that fit in between the handles and had electric start! Can't remember the model numbers, but were pre 1985. I am always on the lookout for one at a garage sale, out with trash, etc. I love those 2 strokers blubbering along.

Dave

 

[Johnny]

Old Lawn Boys don't blubber, the hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Deltona_Dave]

True Johnny, They have a very distinct and sweet sound when well-tuned. I meant that term affectionately towards the LB's.

Dave